23 August 2015, Warri – The people of Uzere community, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, has demanded N10 billion compensation from Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC and Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, NPDC for loss of lives and damage to ecosystem’ arising from 55 years of oil exploration in the area.

The people, in a statement through Columbus Oguname, described the community as “highly traumatized”, decrying its alleged neglect and marginalization by the managements of the companies.

Reiterating that the community was the second place in Nigeria where oil was discovered after Oloibiri in Bayelsa State, Oguname lamented that “for 55 years of oil exploration in Uzere and the huge resources tapped from her bowels, the place is neglected and left seriously underdeveloped.”

Her environment is heavily polluted with uncountable oil spills that have obnoxious impact on the farm lands, fishing lakes and ponds which are the main sources of livelihood of our people.

“The life span of any roof in Uzere is less than 15 years due to incessant gas flare induced acid rains while the health of the people has been placed on perpetual jeopardy. To compound issues, there is no infrastructure to ameliorate the ugly situation. Water supply is inadequate and epileptic; same with electricity.

The schools are dilapidated just as the few roads while the cottage hospital that SPDC managed to build is not functioning maximally due to inadequate structures and logistics. Another dimension to our misery is lack of employment or appointment for our teeming youths and qualified indigenes. Presently, no single Uzere person holds any meaningful position in any oil company or interventionist agency. Indeed our pains are legion while successive regimes and government at various tiers have not hearkened to our cries.”